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Best Fonts for Laser Engraving: Free Downloads, Ideal Weights, Sizes, and File Tips

 

Best Fonts for Laser Engraving: Free Downloads, Ideal Weights, Sizes, and File Tips

Laser engraving font selection guide thumbnail showing bold sans-serif text overlay on brushed metal background

Choosing the right font for laser engraving is one of the most important steps for achieving clean, legible, and professional-looking results. Whether you're creating personalized gifts, signage, or product branding, the wrong font choice can make your project hard to read—or worse, fail during engraving.

In this guide, you'll learn how to select optimal fonts for engraving, where to safely download them for free, how to set ideal weight and size, and what file formats will give you the best results.

Table of Contents

  1. What Makes a Font Suitable for Laser Engraving?

  2. Where to Find Free and Commercial-Use Fonts

  3. Ideal Font Sizes, Thickness, and Spacing

  4. How to Convert Fonts to Vector Format

  5. Checklist: Steps to Prepare Engraving-Ready Text

  6. Conclusion: It's Not Just the Font, It's the Setup

1. What Makes a Font Suitable for Laser Engraving?

Fonts used in print or web design aren't always suitable for laser engraving. The laser burns or melts material along vector paths, so fonts with thin strokes or decorative details may not engrave clearly.

3 Key Characteristics of a Good Laser Engraving Font:

  • Even, Thick Strokes: Consistent line weight prevents distortion during engraving.

  • Simple Structure: Minimal decorative elements (like serifs or flourishes) result in cleaner output.

  • Open Counters: Fonts with wide open areas inside letters (like "a" or "o") are less likely to close up when engraved.

Recommended Fonts:

  • Nanum Gothic / Nanum Square (Free Korean fonts)

  • Pretendard (Highly legible for both Korean and English)

  • Roboto / Montserrat (Clean and popular sans-serif for English engraving)

2. Where to Find Free and Legal Fonts for Engraving

Since most engraving is for commercial products or personalized gifts, it's critical to ensure your fonts are licensed for commercial use.

Top Trusted Sites for Free Commercial-Use Fonts:

Site Highlights
Noonnu Free Korean fonts with commercial licenses
Google Fonts Global fonts with open licenses
Naver Fonts Official Korean fonts like Nanum Square
Sandoll Cloud Offers trials of premium Korean fonts

Important: Always check the license (PDF or usage notes). Uploading to commercial platforms like Etsy or Amazon without the proper rights may result in product takedowns.

3. Ideal Font Sizes, Thickness, and Spacing for Engraving

Even with a good font, incorrect size or spacing can lead to poor results.

General Recommendations:

  • Font Size: At least 6–8 pt

  • Stroke Thickness: Minimum of 0.5mm

  • Letter Spacing: Minimum 0.5mm between characters

Pro Tip: Use a test phrase like: "Laser Engraving Sample ABC 123 가나다라"

Engrave it at multiple sizes and weights to determine what works best for your material and machine.

4. How to Convert Fonts to Vector Format

Most laser cutters require vector files for accurate engraving and cutting. Raster formats (like JPG) often result in poor resolution and inconsistent results.

Recommended File Types:

Format Strengths Cautions
SVG Best for vector output and compatibility Must convert text to outline
DXF Great for CAD workflows Text may get distorted
PDF Easy sharing Ensure it's vector-based
AI Best for Illustrator users Requires Adobe software

Always Outline Text: Before saving as SVG or PDF, convert your text to outlines (Paths). This avoids font substitution issues on other devices.

5. Checklist: Step-by-Step Font Preparation

Follow this checklist to prepare your text for flawless laser engraving:

  1. Download a commercial-use font from a trusted source

  2. Create your text layout in Inkscape, Illustrator, or CorelDRAW

  3. Convert text to outlines (Path > Object to Path)

  4. Set stroke thickness above 0.5mm

  5. Ensure size and spacing meet legibility guidelines

  6. Save as SVG or DXF and test engrave on sample material

Bonus Tip: Always preview your file in your laser software (LightBurn, LaserGRBL, RDWorks) to ensure proper recognition.

6. Conclusion: Well-Chosen Fonts Create Professional Results

Fonts are more than just type—they directly influence product appeal and legibility. In laser engraving, the combination of clear, bold fonts and well-prepared files can dramatically increase your success rate.

✅ To Start Now:

  • Download a free font from Noonnu or Google Fonts

  • Set up a test layout with 3 font sizes and weights

  • Convert to outline and engrave a sample on wood or acrylic

Well-prepared fonts = fewer errors, higher quality, and happy customers.


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